When to briing chickens home...

[KristiPotts]

Okay folks - I know this is a novice question, and possibly a silly one at that, but my question is - is there a "best" time to bring chickens home?

We are just beginning our backyard chicken hobby, starting with the coop building, gathering of supplies, etc. The birds will come last, once we have a proper safe home for them, but since this is all going to take a while and could push into the fall/winter months, should we wait until spring to bring the birds home?

Since we aren't planning to start out with little chicks, and our winters are relatively mild here in Georgia, does it really matter???

Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[GitaBooks]

Chicks probably wouldn't do well in the winter, but fully feathered pullets or adults should do fine. They probably won't lay, but since they were just moved and need time to settle down, it works out great. They will be settled down and tame by spring, when they start laying a lot.
You could wait until spring, since there tends to be a larger variety of breeds available at that time.
Really it is up to you. Ask yourself: When are they available? Do you want to wait or not? and how soon you want eggs?


I hope this helps! Good Luck!

 

[aart]

I got my first flock in fall, Sept, got eggs the second day. It was great! 5 hens a laying, 1 fantastic rooster and 4 'pullets'(one ended up being a cockerel that spent the winter in solitary and my first butchering harvest in spring).

BUT....

I also brought home some lice and scaly leg mites too which I kind of regret, but I was lucky I didn't bring home anything worse. Still fighting the leg mites, but the lice are gone.

So Beware.


ETA: wanted to say tho good for you for waiting until you've got your coop all set.
Being so warm down there and depending on when you get the coop done....you might be able to get some chicks, with the proper heat management from the get go, they can take cooler temps by 3-4 weeks.

 

[dekel18042]

Okay folks - I know this is a novice question, and possibly a silly one at that, but my question is - is there a "best" time to bring chickens home?

We are just beginning our backyard chicken hobby, starting with the coop building, gathering of supplies, etc. The birds will come last, once we have a proper safe home for them, but since this is all going to take a while and could push into the fall/winter months, should we wait until spring to bring the birds home?

Since we aren't planning to start out with little chicks, and our winters are relatively mild here in Georgia, does it really matter???

Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions?

I've actually hatched chicks in the dead of winter (January and February Now what was I thinking?????) but if you have a place to brooder or they are feathered it shouldn't be a problem. Once the chickens were feathered and moved outside (Depending on their age and where they were housed, you may be able to start them outside directly.) it made a lot of sense that the chickens started laying well young and laid nonstop through their first winter.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Chicks probably wouldn't do well in the winter, but fully feathered pullets or adults should do fine. They probably won't lay, but since they were just moved and need time to settle down, it works out great. They will be settled down and tame by spring, when they start laying a lot.
You could wait until spring, since there tends to be a larger variety of breeds available at that time.
Really it is up to you. Ask yourself: When are they available? Do you want to wait or not? and how soon you want eggs?


I hope this helps! Good Luck!

It's entirely possible to brood chicks in the winter - and not just by brooding indoors -- check out the "Mama Heat Pad" thread by @Blooie to see how it can be done even without the benefit of a broody hen to provide for them. I have had plenty of fall/winter hatches using a broody hen and had no issues. In many ways, the cold is better in regards to certain common issues encountered with very young chicks.

 

[GitaBooks]

That's good to know, because my silkie has this bad habit of going broody during the winter.

I set up a heat light over her and her chicks and the hatching went fine, but it is really cold where we live and I was afraid the chicks, when wondering around for food and water, would catch a chill! It sometimes gets below zero and its windy and stays this way for months. Would they still be okay outside, even though it gets so cold?


(Princess and her chicks, after being moved inside during the cold weather)

 

[aart]

I had a broody hatch this winter....won't do that again.
We had some negative numbers and I do think it affected the chicks feet...maybe some mild frostbite.
I would go out to bring thawed water at -5F and they would be out of the nest.

 

[lovemy6hens]

Not silly at all! It's very wise.

If you can wait until it's cooler, that might be best. I'm in Texas; it's miserably hot and it's only June. Your weather may be similar in Georgia. Keeping chickens cool in hot weather is much more difficult than keeping them warm in cold weather. I suggest taking the time to enjoy them without the extra stress of dealing with heat on all of you.

 

[KristiPotts]

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts/suggestions!

We plan to purchase the chickens locally, so perhaps the breeder will have an opinion or some suggestions as well.

I don't think I'm ready for brooders and babies, etc... I'm already a little overwhelmed and slightly intimidated by all there is to learn about this hobby!

 

[GitaBooks]

Buying locally is a good idea. You can also buy pullets from hatcheries. They are fully feathered and so don't need to be kept in a brooder but are young enough that taming should be pretty easy.

It can be a little overwhelming, I agree! Hang in there.